Entries Tagged as 'mca-i'

Yesterday I was going through my social media pages, checking to see if there were any new cat videos or Pokemon happenings (not!) when I saw a post from my friend and fellow voice talent Tom Dheere. He shared the information that on August 11th, the board of directors of Media Communications Association – International (MCA-I) voted to closed the national association. They’re shuttin’ her down.

My hand to God, this next part is true: I was just about to call Tom Morse of MCA-I Central Carolina to check in about joining before I read that, now that I am a Raleighite or Raleighinian or…something. Actually I’m in Cary, just outside of Raleigh, but being a Caryite sounds more like a disease state than a residence. I’ll figure it out.

So the first thing I did after I read this news was call my friend and fellow voice talent Connie Terwilliger, who also served as MCA-I Executive Director. I don’t think many other people in the history of that group were as dedicated to MCA-I as Connie.

She explained that memberships just didn’t grow and participation wasn’t growing either. Having a boat load of personal experience governing associations, I know the fight is real.

Not that anyone needs to hear from me but for those folks on the MCA-I National Board of Directors – I know what you decided on was not done easily and in fact was likely particularly draining mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Trust that you had all the facts and acted in accordance with your best judgement. You tried…that’s all anyone could ask.

My greatest disappointment is that they just got this really cool new logo that is sooo awesome!

BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS. Many (but not all) of the MCA-I Chapters that have been successful will remain open as independent groups which, aside from some educational and operational facets, they really were anyway. I am told presently this at least includes Orange County, CA, Madison WI, Atlanta, GA, New Jersey and Central Carolinas (yea!). So they can use the cool new logo – alls right with the world.

Some years back, I joined MCA-I when I was in Buffalo – even though there wasn’t a chapter in Buffalo. Then I was promptly placed on the national board of directors, in charge of membership. I liked the people I interacted with but didn’t stay with it after a few years because when I reached out to anyone to introduce myself, they didn’t know me and the membership alone didn’t seem to mean anything without the personal interaction.

My hope is that, with time and participation in the Carolina chapter, I’ll get to know people and see if business relationships can be developed. You gotta out yourself out there. You gotta try or nothing ever gets done.

Congratulations to my friend, fellow voice talent and now President of MCA-I New Jersey Liz de Nesnera on her ascendancy to the throne, er, her election to this new and very prestigious office.

In addition to knowing Liz for many years, I had the pleasure of working with the then “North” Jersey Chapter (which has now been properly christened to cover the whole state) when I was on the international board of MCA-I. Through nothing more than concentrated efforts by the full board on unified, key initiatives, this chapter has grown brilliantly.

OK, so going back to the week before Memorial Day when the blog pooped out, I was planning on posting this the same night as I attended my first MCA-I meeting. Yes I am on the International Board of Directors and I had never been to an actual chapter meeting as I am the sole member in Buffalo, NY.

No, Connie Terwilliger, I will not be forming a chapter in Buffalo as I have quite enough to do already with my own businesses and two small children.

So I went to the Central Carolina MCA-I meeting and had a blast. Tom Morse and his leadership team really have their act together and it was a very fun meeting screening some short films that members had recently produced.

Even better on the voice over side of things, at the meeting were Wade Holloway and Jamee T. Perkins (pictured with me above) & Deb Stamp who lives in Raleigh, NC now but made her home and started her broadcasting career in Western New York.

Last December, I was elected to the board of directors of Media Communications Association â€“ International (MCA-I). MCA-I members are over 700 media communication professionals around the world who provide the vital connection between the creative methods and technology. This describes me and about 70% of my client base.

I joined the association in August after having spoken about the group with Connie Terwilliger â€“ a friend, a wonderful professional voice talent and herself a past-president of MCA-I.

There are 25 chapters across the country with another 150 members like me who are (as I call it) unchapterized. As far as I know I AM the Buffalo chapter.

That’s right. I serve on an international board of directors of an association to which the only meetings I have attended have been virtual (except now I’ve personally been to a leaders meeting in New Orleans). Why would I do such a thing?

Well yes I am crazy but that has nothing to do with this! 😉

The business of media in which I have been a professional (read: paid) practitioner since 1982 is a virtual business. Certainly in-person meetings take place often but fully 80% – 90% of my customers I’ve never met. If one is going to run a global business like mine (which “sounds” a lot more impressive than it is) you quickly have to come to grips with that business reality.

So belonging to an association in which my interaction is either phone or web-based is not at all problematic. And all the other benefits of belonging to a professional association (save for the in-person meetings) still applyâ€¦.and that INCLUDES programming, education, cost-saving programs and networking (think Facebook and Linked-In as to one way that might work). And if your city HAS a chapter in it, all the better for you!

As I am also the MCA-I Membership chair, I am not above offering this infomercial for YOU to join MCA-I tooâ€¦especially since I’ve created a membership recruitment drive now through April 30, 2009 and if you list my name on your on-line membership application as the referring member, I would enjoy the bragging rights! I can’t win any of the prizes as I oversee the promotion.

And very seriously, if you have any questions about membership, please call me at +01 716 572 1800 and I will be glad to speak with you about it – no matter where in the world you are…though remember I am only uni-lingual.